Los Angeles daily herald., 1887-12-20
THE SEWERS.
The Report of the Special
Committee.
THE PLAN AS PROPOSED.
Messrs. Lambie and John E. Jack
ION Examine the Surveys
of the City.

The following IL une IcPoio vi ehs
special committee on sewers, pre-
sented at the City Council yesterday ::
To the Honorable Mayor and Council
of the Ciy of Los Angeles:
GENTLEMEN-At your request we
have made an examination OF the
sewer system for the city OF Los An
geles, as laid down on the accom-
panying map, to which reference i
made, Commenced work on Novem-
Der LIST, 1887, the magnitude of the
undertaking requiring the examine
tion of every location ON the ground,
and in many instances the return TO
examine with view to improve loca-
tion or diminish the cost. We have
gone into the details of construction.
ascertaining the proper size, gradient
and velocity Of flow; also the qnah,i-
ties and cost OF every item. We sub
nit the following as our report:
We are furnished with the following
data by the City Engineer MIR. Fred
Eaton. First, u contour map ot the
city OF Los Angeles, drawn to scale OF
six hundred feet to one inch, on when
is delineated the projected line OF in
tercepting sewers and branches.
Second. Profiles OF the interceptlng
sewers and the various branches.
These profiles showing grades OF
sewers and the confguration OF the
surface of the ground. Oar report Is
based on the data and we assume that
il is correct. We then take up each
line in detail and calculate the dimen-
sions and capacity of the various
sewers proposed, also their probable
cost OF construction. BY reference to
the contour map 1t will be seen that the
greatest inclination is towards the south
and west. The fall is. comparatively
uniform and renders the collection OF
tho CITY sewage at the Sou Invest Cor
ner of the city simple proposition.
This being accomplished the ultimate
disposal Of the matter is the next
PROPOSITION. If it should be decided to
wa. tn the sewage then point on
the Ocean Beach at Ballona offers the
natural .outfAll and is the line OF
cheapest construction; but this we
would mott recommend; J. but would
advise a more expensive construction
for the purpose ofr}keepin9 the outfall
at a. high an elevation as possible
consistant with proper gradient, so
that the city NAV he in a position at
any time to supply irrig ition from this
source of her own sewage from or to
others who viii doubtless seek this
means of irrigation and improving
thousands Of acres Of land that is now
conparatively worthless. This matter
of III. posala we treat as fol ows: The
Oitv Authorities should look
beyond the mere disposal of
the sewage matter IN the
cheapest and shortest way to the
ocean. You have direct interest IN
the welfare Of the country between
your city and the ocean; every dol
lar of wealth added to that county
add to your wealth in some degree,
and the application of irrigation en-
riched hy the sewerage OF large city
to the thou sands OF acres OF land South
and West, means an addition OF
wealth to lands which in ordinary
seasons produce but indifferent crops.
ANY system of Sc average for this city
ia defective which has not for one Of
its prjncipaiaobiects the easy disposal
OF sewerage for irrigation, where and
when needed. The added wealth to
the soil through ssnch is something
wonderful, and only understood by
those who have investi gated the re-
ports from sewage farm in county
where irrigation is a necessity.
We shall not here attempt to prove
the sanitary reasons for advantage
of notification of sewage by being
brought in contact with the soil, as
cunning that every person nowadays
Is satisfied on that point from an ex-
animation Of the country over which
the pre- ent sewage is disposed, we are
more than ever convinced that there
ia no necessity for, any well managed
sewage from being in any manner a
nuisanc., to anyone in the vicinity,
and statistics amply prove that the
per ceot of sickness on the farm is no
greater than at points far removed.
There can be no city more favorably
situated for the cheap and profitable
disposition OF her sewage matter; ;
first. a country stretching to the south
and west which requires irrigation;
second. an abundance OF water for the
proper addition of the sewage, and
furnishing the cheap vehicle of trans
rort;ny the same. We have made a
thorough examination of the adjacent
country likely to require sewage, and
vou.d recommend that in the con-
strnction of sewers ample provisions
he made for the delivery of sewage,
arst ut a point on the east side OF, the
river in the south boundary, secondly
at point on San Pedro street, where
the sewage is now delivered, and
thirdly at u point in the Outfall sewer,
t,he hereafter fixed as q sewage farm.
We would recommend that the city
purchase a tract OF land, say eight Sec
tions. 5l2O acres, at some point favor
ably situated for the reception Of sew
age. This land should be pur-
chased for one hundred dollars per
acre at the most, and with sewage
delivered on the ground (say at the
corner of every eighty acres) would
rent for $40 per acre per year. This
would pay handsome interest on the
investment, over and above expenses,
and create sinking fund to pay Tor
the original cost within ten years.
oUTPALL.
It is desirable that provision should
be made for an outfall to the ocean,
and after a full examination of the
possible routes We recommend that
shown on map furnished by Mr..
Eaton. We, however, recommend
that plenty OF discretion be allowed
for the deviation OF the line, so as to
avoid any obstacle that may be en-
countered in construction. The
general direction OF the line
Ia from the south corner oil
the city in a southwesterly course
to a point near Hyde Park on Ballona
railroad, thence to point on the
ehore line OF the Pacific ocean about
half way between Ballona FL irbor and
the old salt works, Redondo Beach
This line follows generally even
.l;,,s 70 tha haaa of low hills nen,